Chapter sixteen- November 31st 2029- one year later
Thanks again for all of the love and support. So this is kinda like a part two for the story and picks up a year on from when we last saw the characters. I hope you all enjoy and as always I'm sending you all lots of love and happiness!
Chapter sixteen Plot: Jo has an unusual proposal for Alex.
"Dr Maindenway, Dr Karev. How did the surgery to? Is Jackson okay?" Allison Clarke asks as she jumps up from her seat in the waiting room. Her son had been in the hospital for open heart surgery to fix a congenital heart defect.
"Allison, you should sit down," Alex instructs,
"Wh... What's going on? Is Jackson okay?" She asks panicking.
"Allison, When we went to connect Jackson's pulmonary artery to the vessel to return oxygen-poor blood from the lower part of the body to the heart, he developed some complications. Jackson began to code on the table. We brought him back and we completed the procedure. However Jackson had stopped breathing for an extended period of time so our Neurosurgeon is going to run some tests to ensure that there are no deficits," Jo says.
"But... But he's okay now. He's stable?" Allison asks concerned.
"He is currently stable, however is on oxygen support as a pre cautionary measure. He's up in the PICU. I'll take you up to see him," Jo smiles.
"Thank you," Allison smiles.
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Just look at that bond. The bond between mother and child is so Un-breakable, so precious. She almost lost her son today and she's more focused on the fact that he's okay then his potentially deficits. And that makes her such a wonderful mother.
"Can we go somewhere private to talk?" Jo asks as she and Alex walk away from Jacksons room.
"Sure. How about in here?" He suggests as they walk past an empty consult room. Jo nods her head and the pair enter the room. "What's on your mind?" He asks.
"Today's case, it reminded me how precious life is. You can't take anything thing or anybody for granted," Jo says.
"It was certainly an eye opener for everybody," Alex replies.
"And it got me thinking. My baby is growing up so fast, and I thought I was done having kids but I'm not. I want to have another baby. I miss having a baby," Jo says.
"I guess it's hard to realise that kids grow up and stop being little babies," Alex replies.
"And you said you wanted to be a dad and you'd be a fantastic dad Alex. But the only problem was that you didn't have many options," Jo replies.
"What are you getting at Jo?" Alex asks confused.
"Do you still want to be a father?" Jo asks.
"Um, yes. More then anything in the world Jo. But I'm confused," he replies.
"I'm saying lets make a business arrangement. You want a baby and I want a baby so let's have a baby together... As friends of course," Jo proposes.
Great, he's giving me that face. He probably thinks I'm crazy. But I've seen this happen before, it's not unheard of. And it's worked.
"How does that even work Jo?" He asks shocked.
"Well, we'd do up a legal agreement sorting out all of the logistics. Where the baby would go to school, custody, trust fund and everything else. We'd then have IVF and I'd get pregnant using an embryo made up of my egg and your sperm," Jo replies.
"This sounds like a very impulsive decision Jo. You've got four children to think of," Alex replies.
"I know I do. And I've thought about it. The kids would love to have a baby sibling. Zara and Eloise have been asking me for the past few months if they could get a new baby brother or sister and it got me thinking. It's not an impulse Alex. It's what I want and even if you're not on board I'm having another baby," Jo replies.
"How are you going to have another baby if I'm not on board Jo?" Alex asks.
"I got a phone call from a fertility clinic in Middleton last month. David had some sperm stored there years and years ago, since before he met me. They called me to see if I'd like to use the sperm, keep it in storage or have it destroyed. I didn't even know he had it," Jo replies.
He probably thinks I'm crazy for considering to have my dead husbands baby from beyond the grave. I don't care. It's either David's sperm or his sperm.
"Okay, wow," Alex replies shocked.
"Just think about it, please," Jo replies before leaving.
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"Alex, are you okay? You look ghostly," Meredith says as Alex sits down at a lunch table with her.
"Jo offered to have my baby," Alex replies.
"She what?!" Meredith asks shocked as she spits out her drink.
"She made it sound like a business arrangement. She wants another baby and she knows I want to have a baby. So she proposed that we have one as friends," Alex replies.
"How does that even work Alex?" Meredith questions.
"She said we'd have a lawyer do up all the legal arrangements. Like where the baby will go to school and custody," Alex replies.
"Okay, and are you considering it?" Meredith asks. Alex looks back and Meredith. "Holy shit, shut up! You're considering it!" Meredith gasps.
"This might be my only chance to be a father Mer. I'm a single guy on the wrong side of forty. My time to have a baby is limited. She's offering me what I've always wanted," Alex replies.
"Is it really a smart idea to have a baby with Jo though? She's already got four children and she's a single mother. You guys also have so much history together and Don't you think she's already streched out?" Meredith asks.
"Well she was either have a baby with me or David. So she's having one either way," Alex replies.
"David? David is dead, How would she be having a baby with David?" Meredith asks.
"She found out a few weeks ago that David has frozen sperm. The fertility clinic wants to know what to do with it," Alex replies.
"And how is this baby going to be conceived. Are you guys going to have sex? Because I don't think Jo is ready to have sex again after David. It's a big deal," Meredith replies.
"She's already stated IVF," Alex replies.
"I don't know a lot of things, but I do know that you would be an amazing Dad and I'd hate for you to miss a chance to be one. So if you think it's the right thing to do and you're okay about having a baby this way, then I'm happy for you," Meredith replies.
"I'm only thinking about it. I don't know yet," he replies.
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"I'm crazy! I just did the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life!" Jo sighs as she enters Steph's office to find her doing charts.
"Oh no, what did you do? Honestly, it can't be that bad," Steph replies.
Bad? She's got no idea what's coming to her.
"Try Freaking crazy insane," Jo replies.
"Just tell me," Steph replies.
"I asked Alex to have a baby with me," Jo blurts out.
"You didn't! Oh my god," Steph replies chuffed.
"I did," Jo replies.
"Well, did you mean it?" Steph replies.
"I did," Jo replies.
"Then why are you freaking out?" Steph asks.
"Because now he probably thinks I'm crazy and insane. I proposed that we could have a baby as friends. I'd have IVF to get pregnant. It's crazy isn't it?" Jo asks.
"I knew this couple who made a pact that if they were still childless and single by 30 that they would have a a bay together. They're doing very well at raising a baby as friends," Steph replies.
"Okay, so that makes me feel slightly less insane," Jo replies.
"Do you want this? Do you want to have another baby?" Steph asks.
"I do. I miss my babies. They're not babies anymore. I miss having a baby. So I do, I want one more baby. And I know this is an unconventional way of having one. But Alex wants to be a dad, and if I can the baby I want while helping him be a dad then why not go for it?" Jo replies.
"Well, if this is what you want to do, then go for it. But please, just make sure it's idiot proof first," Steph replies.
"Don't worry, lawyers will be involved," Jo replies.
"Yay! You're having a baby!" Steph says squealing.
"I know! And if Alex says no I'll still have a baby because I'll just use David's frozen sperm to have one!" Jo says casually.
"Wait, what?" Steph asks.
"I got a call from a fertility clinic back in Middleton last month. David has some frozen sperm stored there that I knew nothing about. They wanted to know what to do with it," Jo replies.
"This is a very interesting day," Steph replies. "But Jo, you have been doing so well at moving forward. You let go of the past and you're moving forward. Do you really think having David's baby is moving forward?" Steph asks.
Okay, see has a point there. I've been doing so well at moving forward and getting on with my life. Having David's baby would be a massive step backwards. I've come so far.
"I guess you're right. That wouldn't be moving forward. But I think that Alex is going to do what I suggested, so it's okay," Jo replies.
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"Hey, Jo?" Alex asks as he walks into her office.
"Yes," she replies.
"I've thought about what you offered. And I know that this is crazy, but let's have a baby," Alex states.
"We're having a baby?" She asks hopeful
"We're having a baby!" He replies happily.
"You know, I never thought that you'd go for this," Jo says.
"What you are offering is so Unbelievable Jo. And you want a baby and I want to be a father. So for you to help me achieve that is amazing. I can pass up something like this. So thank you," Alex replies.